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Potential Difficulties During Investigations Due to Solid State Drive (SSD) Technology

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Organizing for the Digital World

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation ((LNISO,volume 28))

Abstract

This paper discusses potential complications for Forensic Investigations due to the spread of Solid State Disc (SSD) technologies and influence of socio-technical factors. The discussion is drawing upon a study based on interviews with an experienced Forensic Investigator from Hampshire Constabularies Hi-Tech Crime Unit (HTCU), located in the United Kingdom. The goal of this study was to identify examples of what experienced forensic investigators believe the biggest drawbacks with examining SSDs are. Background case studies have been made in assistance to identify specific characteristics and features that may impact forensic investigations. Key characteristics include that SSD features may pose a threat as potential evidence can be rendered inaccessible; possibly impacting the case or project negatively. The main themes discussed in this paper are related to: Hardware-based encryption, Garbage Collection (GC), the TRIM command, Controller technology, SSD Interfaces, and SSD User needs. Socio-technical influences were acknowledged during the interviews with the Investigator, showing uncertainty to alternative Forensic methods. These themes have been scrutinized to identify how they impact and limit investigations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computing, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK

    James Cox & Peter Bednar

  2. Department of Informatics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    Peter Bednar

Authors
  1. James Cox
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  2. Peter Bednar
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Correspondence to James Cox or Peter Bednar .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Informatics, Systems and Communication, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy

    Federico Cabitza

  2. Department of Informatics, Systems and Communication, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy

    Carlo Batini

  3. Department of Management and Technology, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy

    Massimo Magni

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Cox, J., Bednar, P. (2019). Potential Difficulties During Investigations Due to Solid State Drive (SSD) Technology. In: Cabitza, F., Batini, C., Magni, M. (eds) Organizing for the Digital World. Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation, vol 28. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90503-7_7

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